Part 38 (1/2)
”I know, baby.” His voices softens and he reaches a hand out to run his knuckles down my cheek but I pull back out of reach. He flinches. ”Jules.”
”Just tell me what happened.”
”You won't let me touch you? Does that mean that you just want an explanation so you can leave for good?”
I swallow hard and look at his beautiful hands and shake my head slowly, but I can't talk. Not yet.
”Monday was a cl.u.s.terf.u.c.k, Julianne.” He pulls a hand down his face and suddenly looks very tired. ”I was pulled into Vincent's office as soon as I got to work. He told me that they'd received an anonymous phone call telling them that I'd been having an affair with you. He said that they didn't have any proof, so at first I denied it.”
”Audrey.” I state and he nods.
”It was Audrey. She saw us at the market on Sunday.”
”How does she know about the no frat policy?” I ask, confused.
Nate sighs and shakes his head. ”I don't know. I have a feeling she's probably made it her business to look into most everything about me. She's a nosy woman.”
”So it wasn't Carly?” I'm so confused.
”No, but she was just a ticking time bomb too. After you asked about her in the meeting, Vincent had us do some checking into her computer and office. She had extensive notes on you, Jules. She's the one who sent me that incomplete report in New York. Jenny admitted that she asked her to hit send on your computer after you called that day, and Carly set you up. She was trying to figure out a way to get you fired.”
”Why?” I ask.
”Who knows?” he shrugs and shakes his head. ”To move up in the company faster, maybe she just didn't like you, the possibilities are endless. When confronted, she denied it, but we had enough evidence to fire her.”
”So Carly's gone too?”
”Yes.” He exhales deeply.
”What happened that morning?” I ask.
”Vincent told me that he was going to fire you whether I copped to it or not. He said he didn't need proof, which is true. This is a no-fault state. They can fire anyone for any reason. So I called over to HR to have a representative present and I told them that yes, you and I are in a relations.h.i.+p.” He swallows and shakes his head.
”Then Vincent told me that he'd let you stay if I broke it off and transferred you to the New York office.”
I gasp and feel my eyes go wide.
”I told him to go to h.e.l.l. I told him that I would stay on with the company if he offered you a severance package and cashed out your sick as well as your vacation time.”
”Nate, it wasn't about the money...”
”I'm not finished, Julianne.”
Oh, that's right, this is Nate.
”Alright.”
”Then I left his office and went to mine and starting making calls. At noon, I was asked to go to the conference room so Vincent could discuss some things with Luis and me about how we'll handle the accounts with you gone.”
He looks me in the eye. ”It was killing me. The thought of having to fire you, and planning how to divvy up your work was killing me.”
”You looked just fine in the meeting, Nate.”
”Yeah, well, looks are deceiving. When they pulled you in the room, I wanted to hold you and protect you. But I had a plan, and I couldn't show you any emotion. I knew you'd be strong and that you would tell the truth, and you didn't disappoint me, baby.”
”I didn't have any reason to lie. I knew what I was doing when we started our relations.h.i.+p, Nate.”
”I know. We both did. But we don't have to worry about it anymore.”
”No, we don't.”
”I mean, there's more.” He smiles at me, a wide, beautiful smile, like he has a gift for me. ”After you left the building, I made a few more calls, and then ran after you. You know what happened then.”
”Yeah,” I whisper.
”Well, the following day, I handed in my resignation.” I gasp again and search his face. He looks happy. At peace.
”Nate, G.o.d, you didn't have to...”
”Yeah, I did, Jules. But here's the best part. You know I've done well in this business. I've been smart. I'm a very, very wealthy man, sweetheart.”
”Okay.” I narrow my eyes on his face, not sure where he's going with this.
”Well, as of this morning, you're looking at the CEO of McKenna Enterprises, LLC. We have clients on board, and Mrs. Glover is coming with us too.”
”Us?” I ask, in shock.
”Of course us. It's going to be a busy year ahead, but I know you're not afraid of a little hard work.”
Oh my G.o.d.
”Are you offering me a job?” I ask, still not entirely grasping what he's asking.
”No, my love, I'm offering you a partners.h.i.+p. This is our company.”
”Holy s.h.i.+t.”
”Is that your way of accepting the position?” he asks with a grin.
”No fraternization policy?” I ask.
”I'm not fond of those,” he replies.
”You did this for me?” I whisper, in awe.
”I would do anything for you, baby. When are you going to figure that out?” His face is so serious, so sure.